Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-23

speech expected or MN 10y Lazy DEF
lInpham, who still considered herself
young and lovely, and had stepped
aside TO prop himself against friendly
wall, when he saw cher" enter the
room-she was already only that elo-
qucnt pronoun to him. II fair on that
lsas Loar lie gaw be-, s,io vas ten times
faircr tonight in a lace gown, diapha-
nous, ivory-tintod. with here and there
a purple bunch of the big Gar violet
lost in It's soft folds. She was smiling,
and it seemed to Dare ~ if he had been
blind to the sweetness of her eyes last
night. Her skin was like the wild rose,
and her hair strayed loosely over a
thoughtful and therefore beautiful
brow.
He went up to Lady Bellingham pres
entity and asked for an introduction
"to the charming girl over there III tn,
white gown
"Thoy are all in white frocks," said
Lady Bellingham, "like set Of silly
dcbtdGnfCs. / never saw 50 much white
in room before. You will have to BE-
a little more explicit She spoke petu-
lantly. She was growing stouter every
day. and white was now beyond her.
II wish / could, said Dudley, laugh
ing: "but the fact is | don't know her
name. He had adhered to his resolu-
ton not to question his sisters about
her. "See there" he went on hastily
there she is now with Sir Charles
Lamprey.
"0hl Helen. Helen Dellasis. She
is a cousin of mine" She glanced at
him with an amused smile. another!
she said. "You are the ninth man who
has implored my assistance, and she has
been only five minutes in the room.
She is a great success. isn't she? This
is her first season, and already every
body wants to marry her. y
Sir Dudley's heart rose. She was not
married, them Immediately afterwards
it sank to zero. If they were all at hey
feet what chance had he?
"Be warned in time, - Lady Belling-
ham was saying gayly. "She is a witch,
siren. Steel your heart, or, better
still, flee temptation.
II feel how good it is Of you to take
all this trouble about me- said Sir
Dudley, mildly. Il am indeed gratis
full. but"-with a sudden smile" if
Won can manage that introduction
shall be even more grateful still
You know no fear, then. You think
yourself irresistible ?" said she with q
shrug. "1he world has spoiled you.
And indeed Sir Dudley, being without
encumbrances and master of a very
pretty income, had known what it was
to Ire afectionately treated by dow
ayers, maidens, and frisky matrOns.
Coming from you, that is mkind.
replied he in a low tone. " Have you
found ne Irresistible ?" The tender
rcprcach IN his tone pleased her.
Tut -" she said, throwing mp hcr
handsome head And then: "Wilful
man must have his way, ] suppose.
Come. then, and let me make you
known to Helen"
She moved forward and Dudley fol
lowed her A few moments later saw
him standing before Miss Bellasis, her
card i'm his hand. He had not found
the courage To- look at her while the IN
PRODUCTION Was going on, but nov he
stole a glance at her, to find she wa
gazing at him rather too attentvely.
He grew honestly confused.
II have vcntured 10 put my name
down here" he said, indicating the
solitary vacancy upon her card.
"Ycs?" She held ont her hand foi
the card. end lcisurely read what h.
had written. "Do You know she sad
slowly, Il have rather a curiosity t.
know your name." She might mean
little or nothing 10y this speech she
might mean great deal. Dare felt
that he WAS changing color. At tins
particular moment the waltz then be
ing played came to an abrupt end, as
some Waltzcs will. and after awhile Sin
Dudley, offering her bis arm, led hen
away to a conservatory. The next was
o square dance, put in to make happy
the middle-agod bellies, and Miss Bel
lasis had declared her Discrimination to
have anything to do with it.
When in the dimly-lt conservatory
she sank upon a lounge, opensl heI
fan in leisurcly fashion, and sudden!
turned her eyes full on his.
Il can't explain it, she said delib.
eratelv. 1T is the strangest thing-yet
/ cannot help fancying that have seen
YOU somewhere before.
The arrow went home, but he bore
the wound with courage undaunted.
"The most natural fancy possible,
he said "the Row is open ous all, and
when one goes to two or three balls III d
night, Why
Il do not think it was in the Row OF
at bali ! met You, interrupted she
softly; though, of course, with Il
presumably backward glance into hel
memory, at might have been in thc
Row However, it wasn't.
Perhaps" said he, though he knew
he ddening like wretched school
boy, "you can rcco.lect when it was
was so happy as 70 come within youi
notice.
"If ! could remember surely You
could" she SAID. She leaned toward
him. Have You ever seen me be-
fore?' she asked impressiyely.
Seen YOU" He repeated herques
ton il a stammering fashion, and then
stopped short. Somehow he felt rs il
he could not tell her lie-as if he
could not deny the JOY he had gained
by his first glance at her. He grew 81
lent, and stood there before her frown-
ing pcrplexedly and most evidently
embarrassed.
"Ah, You have, said she.
Che moved quickly, and in doing s..
the lace nounces OF her gown wcr,
caught and entanglcd by the prickly
leaves Of cactus standing near She
tried to extricatc herself from tn,
hcocherous grasp, but unsuccessfully.
Dudley went huriedly to the rescue.
He bent overher
"Allow me, he said. The two ordi-
nary words struck an answering chord.
When had he last used them? She
lifted her head as he set her free, anC
said quickly
Now, know it, "
He grew rather pale. Did she know
il? and whence came that strange little
CLEAN that shone in her eyes? She did
not say anything more or volunteer any
information as to this sudden knowledge
that had flowed in upon her, and Dud-
lev. who was now as one sitting on